Swain school of design

Now part of the Dartmouth College of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Massachusetts, it began in 1881 as the Swain Free School in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Initial funding came from William W. Swain, New Bedford philanthropist, whose purpose was to provide free education in a variety of subjects to students who could not afford post-public school education. In 1902, trustees narrowed the mission, and renamed it the Swain School of Design. In 1991, it merged with the University of Massachusetts. American artist students include Elizabeth Armitage, Donald Beal, Peter Dickison, Thomas Higham, Clifford Riedell and Judith Szarama, and teachers include Martin Blank, Philip Kelsey, and David Loeffler Smith. Source: Wikipedia; AskART database (LPD)